Controlling device for leaf springs



May 31, 1932.l G. w. CRABTR'EE 1,860,657

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR LEAF SPRINGS Filed May 2, 1929 4 Sheetssheet l Q INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 31, 1932.

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G. w. CRABTREE 1 CONTRO-LLING DEVICE FOR LEAF SPRINGS Filed May 2, 1929 4 Smets-sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 31, 1932. G. w. CRABTREE CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR LEAF SPRINGS Filed May 2,. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 A ATTORNEY I May 31, 1932' G. w. CRABTREE coNTRoLLING DEVICE FOR LEAF SPRINGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Filed May 2, 1929 vPatented May 31, 1932 Y 1 CONTROLLING DEVICE'FOR LEAF rSillIRlIlVfiS A `Application IedMay 2,

y My invention ypertains to vehicle springs, particularly laminated springs, and involves means for controlling Y the action thereof, wherebysharp and abrupt shocks may be ab- 5 sorbed or "smoothed out and not transmitted to v the vehicle body `during rapid travel A of the vehicle over rough roads. y

The controlling means includes frictional 'members which are connected to ythe spring in the mode and manner hereinafter shown and 'described whereby theiexing movements of the spring in either direction will produce relative movement ofthe fric- 7 tion members longitudinally ofthe spring.

` The controlling means may also include or form apart of a casing or ycover forA the spring. f

'Thusreferring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation vof a laminated vehicle spring shackled to the chassis frame of a vehicle and embodying my invention.

'Fig., 2is a sectional view, enlarged, showingv one of my improved controlling devices con.-y nected to alaminated spring, and Fig?) is a 'bottom view of the part shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a'crosssection on line 4-4 of Fig.`2. Figs. 5 and 6 areperspective views of the two cover sections for the spring. y

Sheet k2:'Fig. 7 is a side elevation, corre- 'sponding to Fig. 1, showing a modified form f'of the invention. Fig. 8 is a sectional view and Fig. 9 is a bottom view, of the foregoing invention. Fig. 10is a cross section on line 10-10 of Fig. 8 and Fig.'11 isa perspective fview of the connecting yoke, whereas Fig. 12 is a perspectiveview ofthe spring leaf which is connected to'one end ofvsaid yole. Sheet13:-Figs. `13 and 14:` are top and sectional views, respectively, of a further `mod- Y "lo ied form of ythefinvention, and Figs.f15, 16,

' and 17 are perspective views of theconnecting` yoke, base plate, and bearing plate, re-

Y spectively. Y, Sheet f1: Figs. 18 and 19 are plan and secy i tion views,respectively, of still another-form of the invention, and Fig. 20y is a perspective viewof the cover. Fig. 21 is a cross section .on line 21-.-j21 of Fig. 19.V

Now referring to sheet V1, the operative assembly shown :therein comprises a "chassis 192s. semina. 359,841.

frame 2, and a laminated vehicle spring 3y which is clipped at its middle to Lan axle 4 yand shackled at itsoppo'site ends to chassisV frame 2, as customarily. As shown, each end@ half of the main spring 3 lis providedwith- 55 controlling devices, which include aV casing, cover, ory yoke member 5 for the spring. One end of member 5 is pivotally connected by bolt 6 to an eye 7 of a bottom plate or spring leaf 8 of main spring 3. Where main spring 60 .y

3 is of the semielliptic type two controlling Y n members 5 may be used, but inasmuch as these members are of identical construction,VK a description of one, with thesame numerals, will suffice forboth. l u

f Thus one end` of member 5 is connected to `a bottom plate or leaf 8 clamped rigidly and i v removably to the spring beneath'axle4 bythe clips or clevis 9.5 The opposite end of member 5-is connected by'a bolt 10 to an eye 11 at the outer end of :a relatively thin spring leaf12, which leaf is'` interposed between two of the main leaves of the spring, and extends` towards theV axle any desired distance. `The inner end of leaf 12 is spaced apart from but closely related to the end of a spacing'leaf 14 of the same thickne'ssxas leaf 12, which spacing leaf 14 vis clamped rigidly between the leaves ofthe main spring. According# ly, leaf 12 may be shifted longitudinallybetween the leavesof the vmain spring,V and it may also flex in the same degree. However, the longitudinal movement of leaf 12 is limited in view'of its pivotal connection with controlling member v5, which swings or moves in a vertical plane with bolt 6 as the axis of movement wheneverthe main Vspring is bent for flexed either upwardly or downwardly, as Y occurs ywhen there is Arelative movement ver- YYii tically between `the l body of the vehicle. 1 Obviously, the load on the Yspring is Vdistributed over all of the spring leaves, including supplemental vleaf 12 which is free to reciprocate longitudinally in fricf tional engagement withl two vof ,the Vmain 95 leaves. Flexing of the main spring produces a creeping'movementbetween-the main leaves, but the longitudinal' orcreeping move- `ment Yofsupplemental leaf 12 is considerably 2151' greater than the creeping rr'iovement between, c

axle andthe frame or k the main leaves and therefore constant resistance or restraint is present within the spring itself especially to oppose sudden movement such as results from shocks and rebounds.

The top of member 5 is spaced apart from the top leaf of the main spring, except at its pposite ends Wlaene they rest upon .said leaf.

ember 5 is preferably made `of metal and it is a stiff or rigid part, particularly 'when saidr member includes independent ,Side flanges to enclose the sides of the spring. The main spring is freelto (lex or bend on curved lines in respect to this rigid member 5, and the bottom may either be opened, or -a bottom section 16 may be attached to the belts 6 and 1'0, respectively, to completelv Y enclose or 'house the spring, thereby providinv a dust cover or guard or a holder for a lulcantas wellas a connecting yoke for reci ating Supplemental ,leaf 12.

F As.7 to 12 inclusive on sheet 2 show a modified form `of the invention, in that a supplemental leaf 12 is connected to a short yo e member' :which is riveted or otherwise Secured to a second supplemental leaf 18 seated upon the to leaf of main s ring 3. Leaf 18 is rigidly cli; ed to the main spring beneath axle 4" oy t` e clip or clevis 9. flexing of the main spring produces a creeping movement between 'themain leaves .and the sup lementa'l leaves, and leaf 12 is sbffd ngthwise between the leaves of the main spring kin substantial degree, owing .to its oonnectlonto yoke member 5 and bolt 6' situated or located a substantial distance below the upper leaf 18.

, Referring to Figs. 13 to 17, inclusive, on rSheet 3, the spring controlling device in this instance comprises a pair of relatively thin plates or leaves 19 and 20 seated upon the top leaf 21 of a main s ring 22. Supplemental leaf 2() is connecte by "bolt 23 to one end of a yoke member 24 which has .depending sides er arms 25 towliioh a link 26 is connected b.

` a .bolt 2T," Link 26 is also pivotally connected vby a Second bolt'28, to a base'plate ory bottom leaf 29, for the main spring at axle 3G. Yoke member 24 ris slidably couled to the main spring by a `coupling bolt land a ,spring plate 32, andabowspring 33 .is interposed between the top of yoke memher--24 and the supplemental leaf 19. Bow sp1-ing 33 leaves 19 and 20 together and also presses leaf 20 against top leaf 21 of the main spring. YBow spring 33 also holds the bearing plate 17. against the bottom of one of the shorter leayesof the main spring where link 26 is wnpledto the yoke member by bolt 27. The upper leaf 1945 pivotally connected at one end. tof a clampingy plate 34 for the main spring, where attachedpto axle 30 by the clips `orleises 35. AIn operation, when the main r Spring is flexed the yokemember 24isshifted presses the supplemental lengthwise of the main spring in substantial degree, thereby shifting leaf 20 over top leaf 21 and relatively to the supplemental leaf 19. The friction between the said leaves checks or snubs the action of the main spring when flexed in either direction.

Figs. 18 to 21, inclusive, Sheet 4, disclose a further modification of the invention, comprising a flanged cover or yoke member 36 adapted to enclose the leaves of 75 thesnain spring-37 between the axle 38 and the outer or free end of the main spring where .connected .to a .shackle 39. Member 36 is connected by a bolt 40 to au eye 41 on a base plate orehort leaf 42 of `the main spring at axle 80 38, and the opposite end of vmember 36 is slidably connected to the upper leaves of .the main spring near shack 39 by a cross bolt 43. Thetop'of member '36 is spaced a t from the top leaf of the main spring, anl yone 35 or more friction plates are carried by member 36 within the space or chamber above the main spring.^` As shown, two friction plates 44 and 4'5 respectively, are secured to member 36, plate 44 eing attached by bolt 46 te the .90 outer end .of member 36, and the second plate 45 being hinged by a. pin or bolt 47 to a hinge member l,48 which is fastened by bolt 49 to the main spring between the clips or clevises `50, above axle 38. Short connecting bolts595 5 1 unite plate 44 and the top ofwmember 3615 together, the bolts passing through slots or openings 52 in friction plate 45. Tension springs 53 are interposed between the heads or nuts on bolts 51 and the top of memberlO '36, thereby placing a predetermined amount of jtension n between the friction plates. When the main spring is'llexed the rivid, cover, enclosure, or housing member 3 is caused to swing in a vertical plane with its-- axis of movement at bolt 40, thereby producing relative movement between the friction plates, 44 and 45, inasmuchas friction plate 45 is hinged at 47 ata point above and remote y from pivot bolt 40.. Flex'ing movements offllo the main spring in either direction, :is thereby controlled or restrained rand sudden snap actions smoothed ordampened.

`Wlmt}[c1aim,is: v u 1.1L controlling device for leaf springs, including a spacing member for the leaves, a supplemental movable spring leaf interposed between the spaced leaves, and means for producing llongitudinal movement of said supplemental leaf with respect to the leaves of the spring enclosing said supplemental leaf, said means being actuated by the flexing movements of the main leaves of the spring.

2. A controlling device .for leaf springs, including a supplementalleaf interposed be,- tween two leaves ofthe mainrspring and vmovable in respect thereto, and a rigid connection for the supplemental leaf associated With Said spring and pivoted to swing Vati.

cally in the plane of flexing movements of the main spring.

3. A ycontrolling device for leaf springs, including Va supplemental spring friction Y leaf, and a cover for the main spring connected with said leaf and'hinged to swing to 'permit flexing of the mainvleaves and to shifty c said supplemental friction leaf relatively to said main leaves. f 4. A controlling device for leaf springs, in-

cluding a main spring, a cover for said main y spring, and a friction device operatively connected with said cover` and spring.

y 5. A controlling device for leaf springs, including a main spring, an enclosing member for said main spring hinged to swing in respect thereto, and a friction device connected with said enclosing member and main spring for controllingthe flexing movements kof the main spring.y

6. A controlling device for leaf springs, including a ysupplemental friction leaf interposed between the main leaves of the spring, a housing member for the main spring con-V nected at one end to the supplemental spring and its other end to a fixed partk associated with the main spring;

7. A controlling device for leaf springs, inf cluding a supplemental spring leaf friction- 30, ally engagedv with lthe main leaf of the spring, and means connecting one end of said supplemental leaf with the-*base portion of the main spring, said means being movably connectedto said parts to permit it to follow 55 `rthe flexing movements of the main spring.

' 8. In a laminated vehicle spring rigidly kattached to an axle, an independent leaf interposed between two main leaves of the spring,

' and an operating member connected with 4 said independent leaf and said main spring `close to its attachment with said axle whereby said interposed leaf is shifted in substantial i 1 degree relativelj)T to the leaves of the main spring when said spring is flexed in either direction.

In testimony whereof I affix myy signature.

' GEORGE W. CRABTREE." 

